Vermont bill allowing same-sex marriages advances

by The Associated Press on Apr 03, 2009, under Uncategorized

MONTPELIER, Vt. – After impassioned pleas from gay and lesbian legislators sharing their own love stories in front of hundreds of partisans packing the chamber, the Vermont House on Thursday advanced a bill that would allow same-sex couples to marry.

Rep. Jason Lorber, D-Burlington, told of seeing his and his partner’s civil union announcement in the newspaper in a “civil union” category separate from the marriage announcements.

“Why do we have to differentiate?” a weeping Lorber asked his House colleagues. “Why do we have to say you are different? Why can’t we just say ‘Congratulations’ ” when same-sex couples wed.

After about five hours of debate, the House gave the bill preliminary approval on a 95-52 roll call vote. The margin was less than the two-thirds majority that would be needed for the 150-member House to override Gov. Jim Douglas’ promised veto. The Senate previously passed the bill 26-4, so a veto override is seen as likely there.

Opponents of the measure spoke of their respect for its advocates. One, Rep. Albert “Sonny” Audette, D-South Burlington, expressed sadness at having concluded he was required by his church to vote no.

“I am a devout Catholic,” Audette said. “My religion at this point would not want me to vote for this. I wish that I could and I hope for the best and I congratulate the people who are trying to get this through.”

Only Massachusetts and Connecticut permit same-sex marriage. California, which briefly allowed it before a voter initiative in November repealed it, allows domestic partnerships, as do a handful of other states.

Rep. Duncan Kilmartin, R-Newport, said he feared that people who oppose same-sex marriage would have their beliefs impinged upon by the law. He said a Massachusetts court had ruled against parents who objected to their children being taught in a public school that gay and lesbian couples have “an acceptable lifestyle.”

“You do not have the right to demand that we approve same-sex marriage, even if you pass a law saying it’s the law of Vermont,” Kilmartin said.

Citizen Online Archive, 2006-2009

This archive contains all the stories that appeared on the Tucson Citizen's website from mid-2006 to June 1, 2009.

In 2010, a power surge fried a server that contained all of videos linked to dozens of stories in this archive. Also, a server that contained all of the databases for dozens of stories was accidentally erased, so all of those links are broken as well. However, all of the text and photos that accompanied some stories have been preserved.

For all of the stories that were archived by the Tucson Citizen newspaper's library in a digital archive between 1993 and 2009, go to Morgue Part 2